The problem was that their builders did not look at the home and site holistically, missing opportunities that would have made the home more functional. As they discovered after living in it, it was a much bigger house than two people needed. They also had a long commute to and from work each day.

When they decided to move closer to the city to reduce their commute times, they were well versed in sustainable home building and design. Their thinking had evolved, technologies had improved, and they got a second shot at building their dream home. This time, they hit the trifecta, with the admirable certifications and awards of LEED Platinum (version 4), Minnesota Greenstar Home (Gold), and Living Building Challenge Zero Energy Certification. How did that happen? They set goals and thoughtfully planned the design of the home.

It's All About Setting Goals

The primary goal for the Hansons was to have a truly Net Zero energy home, but it didn't stop there. They wanted the house to be Net Zero, including the ability to charge their two electric vehicles, their electric lawnmower and snowblower. 

So, what was the driving force behind these lofty goals? As Mark says, he has always lived by the axiom, "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children." He continues, "I just believe we should leave this world a better place than we found it."

Having been concerned about the environment and climate change for a few decades, they set out to do what they could with their home. They asked themselves, "What can we do? We can build a house that meets our values and morals." And that they did.

Finding the Perfect Site

They couldn't start designing the home until they found a site. They looked for a location that was not too far from where they work and play. Mark, a self-proclaimed data geek, calculated that by reducing their commute time, they found an extra four to five weeks of time in their lives. That's time you cannot get back.

To meet their stormwater management goal, the egress windows in the basement have large window wells, with boulders as a retaining wall, and native plants for soaking up runoff water. The large basement windows also let in light and warmth from the southern sun in the winter. 

The bigger component, though, is the rain garden swale on their property. With the help of the city, they were allowed a few curb cuts to let stormwater from the street run onto their property. The small bit of grass that they do have is tall fescue, a species of turf that does not have to be mowed or watered as much as conventional turfgrass. 

Building on Kate's training in holistic health, they designed a beautiful meditation circle in the back yard. 

Costs and Benefits

The cost of creating a healthy, Net Zero, or in their case, net negative energy home has come down. The Hansons estimate they paid about 15 percent more for their home than one built to code, but that the incremental costs could quickly be recouped through lower operating costs. Their electricity is free. 

In addition to lower operating costs, they get to live with less maintenance. LED lights mean they never have to change a light bulb. No gas appliances mean no pilot light to fix and cleaner indoor air. Healthier indoor air means air filters do not need to be changed as frequently. And ground source heat pumps mean no outside air conditioner to cleanout.

They seem to have gotten everything right this time. So much so, that Mark started a blog to share his knowledge and show that it is not so hard.